Atmospheric powered demand-ballaster



May 16, 1961 J. A. wlNKER ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1960 www n w f .fr f. n vf-@411. n c 1 nL?? fr L d I A M May 16, 1961 J. A. WINKER 2,983,950

ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER Filed March 3, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Ezzazzbz" James All//M'ef' gg jm, MMM, @E

"May 16, 1961 J. A. wlNKER ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1960 Ezel-:far Jmes ,4. #Vin/rer UnitedStates Patent() 2,983,950 ATMOSPHERIC POWERED DEMAND-BALLASTER FiledMar, s, 1960, ser. No. 12,6711

, |10 claims. (c1. 244-94) v The present invention relates to animproved ballaster operated by atmospheric pressure for dropping ballastand keeping a free iioating balloon at substantially a constantaltitude.

InV free oating balloons of the type that are sent aloft for thecollectionof scientific data or the like it is often desirable that theballoon maintain a constant altitude with a minimum of variation. Theballoon may be kept at a constant altitude by dropping ballast toincrease the gross lift of the balloon. Thus as the balloon descendsballast is automatically dropped to cause it to ascend to the desiredaltitude. As the ballast is dropped to compensate for loss of lift ofthe gas in the balloon, the balloon will oscillate about an idealaltitude. Changes in conditions which, when uncompensated, cause theballoon to lose altitude include the loss of lifting gas -due todiffusiontthrough the balloon material, and decrease in volume of gasfrom temperature decrease.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ballasterfor dropping ballast and maintaining a balloon at a constant altitudewhich is atmospheric powered to obtain the release of ballast and iscontrolled by atmospheric pressure increase due to balloon descent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ballasterwhich is simple in construction, reliable in operation, has goodresponse to altitude change, and does not require the provision ofauxiliary power such as batteries for operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ballasterwhich utilizes the principles of the effects ofpressure change withchange in balloon` altitude on an'air chamber having an opening closedby a control liquid so that the air in the air chamber will change involume with change in balloon altitude to cause a shift in position ofthe control liquid.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent with the teachingof the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure ofthe preferred embodiments in the specification, claims, and drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a free floating balloon provided withan atmospheric powered ballaster in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention for controlling the balloon altitude;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, shown somewhat inschematic form,of a ballaster constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

1.'. .Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2 andshowing the parts of the ballaster in position for dropping ballast,while in Figure 2 ballast is not being dropped; Y

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view shown in somewhat schematic formof a modied form of the structure tlf-Figures 2 and 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views in somewhat schematic formof another arrangement of a ballaster in accordance with the presentinvention with the ballaster of Figure 5 not dropping ballast and theballaster of Figure 6 dropping ballast;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view showing another form of ballasterconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a vertical section view taken substantially along lineVIII-VIII of Figure 7; and

Figures 9 and l0 arevertical sectional views similar to Figure 8 butshowing the ballaster partly tipped in Figure 9 and showing theballaster inverted in Figure 10 in position to drop ballast.

As shown on the drawings: Y

Figure l illustrates a floating balloon 16 having lifting gas therein.The balloon may be of the type formed of a lightweight plastic such aspolyethylene cut into gores with the gores welded to each other to formthe balloon envelope. The balloon is partially inflated on the groundand rises to the desired altitude without dropping ballast. Theballaster will remain inactive during ascent and until the oatingaltitude is reached, as determined by the factors of balloon design,load, and gas in the balloon. The ballaster will start functioning whenthe balloon descends below a desired floating altitude as deterf minedby design of the ballaster. Descent below said desired altitude willcause the dropping of small amounts of ballast by a ballaster or ballastmechanism 17 which is part of the balloon payload. Y

As illustrated in Figure 2 the ballast mechanism includes a container 18closed at its upper end with liquid ballast 19 therein and below theballast container is a control liquid container 20 with a chamber 21with control liquid therein. Theliquid ballast and control liquid eachare a material which preferably does not freeze and kerosene or asimilar product may be employed. Within the control liquid container 20is a float 22 being hollow to form a chamber 23 lillel with a gas suchas air. The control liquid container provides a irst chamber 21 for thecontrol liquid and the oat 22 provides avsecond chamber 23 therein withthe chambers communicating through an opening 24 at the base of thesecond chamber beneath the surface of the liquid. The container 20 hasan opening 20a in its side above the control liquid.

At its upper end, `the oat carries an open cup-like container 26 whichreceives liquidrballast 25Vin a pool to close olf or open a dependingspout 27n leading from the ballast container 18. t t

When the `float 22 moves downwardly in the control liquid container 20to the position of Figure 3, air bubbles can pass up into the closedballast container 18 to permit the ballast 19 to flow downwardly throughthe spout 27 and ilow out through a discharge spout 28 to therebylighten the ballast load and increase the free lift of the balloon. Aswill be observed the lioat 22 will remain at its uppermost positionwhile the balloon is ascending from the ground to floating level andsome air will escape from the iioat chamber 23. When the balloon reachesiioating altitude and begins descending, liquid will flow into thehollow tioat chamber 23 through the opening 24 thereby reducing thebuoyancy of the float 22 to cause it to sink and to drop ballast fromthe container 18.

In order to reduce the rate of release of ballast from the container 1Sit may be desirable to place a iiow restriction in the spout 27 such asby locating a porous packing in the opening.V In each of the ballastersillustrated` and described, a flow restriction such as a felt or otherfibrous material for blocking the discharge orifice may be employed andflow can be regulated to virtually any desired value. q K Y The unit canoperate without the spoutsZS if desired 3 and the opening 20a will thenbe used for the escape of ballast.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, the sensitivityrof theballaster is increased byproviding .a booster container 29 with achamber 32 thatfdrains liquid from the control liquid .container 20..The booster .chamber 32 has liquid 30 therein which flows through anopening 31 communicating with the control liquidchamber ,21. -Airistrapped in the upper end vofthe booster .chamber 32.

In this arrangement, while the differential between liquid levels ismaintained as -with the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3, the levels ofthe-liquid in the-first chamber 21 and the liquid 30 in the thirdchamber32 are changed in rapid response to changing pressure. The sensitivitycan be controlled by aV selected choice'of booster chamber volume.

As an example we -will consider a ballaster vwith a booster chambervolume of 15 cubic inches, a control liquid container having across-section area of l square inch, and a oat chamber length vof 2inches. With descent of the balloon, a pressure change of 2% will cause.3 cubic inch of liquid to be drawn into the boosterchamber, loweringthe level of liquid in thecontrol container .3 inch. At the same time,the oat will sink .04r inch by reason of the 2% liquid'intake within itschamber. The two actions result in a oat travel of .34 inch which isquite adequate to start ballast flow.

.As will be recognized, the rst chamber 21, the second chamber 23 andthe third chamber 32 .maybe constructed in various shapes within thelimits of the lprinciples of the invention, with the preferred .shapes.being shown.

In the ballaster of Figures and 6, portions .of the structure are thesame as the ballasters of vFigures 2, 3 and 4 and are numberedsimilarly.

The release of ballast from the ballast container 18 is obtained throughthe liquid valve arrangement including the spout 27 projecting down intothe pool 25 of the ballast. The pool of liquid which controls a ballastvalve is supported on a float 33 in the control liquid container 20having the iirst chamber 21 of control liquid therein. Within the oat isa second chamber 36 having an opening 35 at its bottom end communicatingwith the kcontrol liquid. The oat has an upper surface which ispositioned relative to the control liquid so that the control liquid owsover the upper surface thereof. A support rod 38 of relatively smalldiameter supports the container 26 on the oat.

When the balloon descends .and atmospheric airpressure increases toforce .control liquid up into they oat chamber 36, in the mannerillustrated in Figure 6, the control liquid closes over the top surface.37 of the iloat and the float then will no longer be buoyant and willsink immediately. This can be adjusted for `great sensitivity.

In the ballaster of Figures 7 through 10, a ballast and control liquidcontainer 55 is provided with trunions 56 and 57 to be pivotallysupported on a balloon. The container has a liquid ballast chamber '58therein with an opening 59 for discharge of the ballast. In the positionof Figures 7 and 8 ballast will not be discharged, and when thecontainer is inverted to the position of Figure 10, ballast can seep outthrough the opening 59. A 'itting such as 55a equalizes the pressurewithin the liquid ballast chamber 58 with atmospheric pressure.

The container has a control section on the right end with control liquid60 therein. At the upper end of the control section is a first airchamber 65 and at .the lower end is a second chamber `61 which containsthe control liquid during times when Vballast .is .not being released.The second chamber 61 is provided with a ll opening 62 whichcommunicates with atmosphere so that the sur face of the control liquidis exposed to atmospheric pressure. An arcuately shaped passageway 63communicates between the chambers 61 and 65 and extends around the '4edge of the cylindrical shaped container 55. The air chamber 65communicates through an opening with a booster chamber 67 within thecontrol section of the container. At an intermediate portion of thepassageway 63 is an enlarged portion 64.

During balloon ascent, air bleeds out of the booster chamber 67 and theair chamber 65 through the chamber 61 to the atmosphere. When theballoon reaches the oating height and again descends, low pressure inthe air chamber relative to the ambient pressure causes liquid to suckup through the passageway 63, in the manner illustrated in Figure 9. Thepassageway is so sized so that it will be nearly iilled when the lowerchamber 61 becomes empty. The greater mass of the control liquid isconcentrated in the enlarged portion'64 which is spaced from thechambers 61 and 65. This creates a maximum torque or rolling force totend to invert or to turn the container from its upright position. Oncethe 'container 55 starts to rool from the position of Figure 8 to theposition of Figure 9, the liquid transfers completely into the upperchamber 65 so that the container moves to the position of Figure l0. Theballaster is then held stably .and in inverted position with the liquidballast seeping from the drain opening 59 until such time as the balloonagain rises to its ideal altitude. At this time the transfer of controlliquid reverses and the ballaster is restored to an upright position.

In reversal, as will be apparent from Figure l0, 'decrease inatmosphericair pressure will cause the liquid to flow upwardly through thepassageway 63 and will roll the container 55 back to the uprightposition. .The process is repeatable making this a true demandatmospheric powered ballaster.

Thus it will be 'seen that I have provided an improved ballaster whichmeets the objectives and advantages hereinbefore set forth. Themechanism is extremely reliable and is simple to manufacture. It doesnot require the provision of additional power and is operated byatmospheric pressure changes.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of thepreferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but coversall modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methodsfalling within the scope of the principles taught bythe invention.

I claim as my invention:

.1. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for ballast to be controllably released in increments from afree floating balloon, a ballast release device having a chamber movablewith respect to its support and controlling the release of said ballast.in response to movement of the chamber, a first chamber containing acontrol 'liquid exposed to atmospheric pressure, a second closed chambercontaining a gas exposed to said control liquid to be compressed orexpanded as a function of atmospheric pressure on the control liquid,and means responsive to change in volume in gas in said second chamberfor changing the position of said movable chamber and operating saidballast release device when the atmospheric pressure has a predeterminedincrease caused by descent of the balloon.

2. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for ballast to vbe controllably rcleased in increments from afree oating balloon, a ballast release device having a chamber movablewith respect to its support and controlling the release of said ballastin response to movement of the chamber, a lirst :chamber containing acontrol liquid exposed to atmospheric pressure, a second chambercontaining air and having a, lower opening communicating with the rstchamber belowfthe surface of the control liquid, and means responsive tothe `transfer of liquid from said irst chamber into said second chamberwith increase in atmospheric pressure caused by descent of the balloonfor changing the position of said movable chamber and operating saidballast release device.

3. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for liquid ballast to be controllably released in incrementsfrom a free oating balloon, a ballast release valve having a chambermovable with respect to its support and controlling the release of saidliquid ballast in response to movement of the chamber, a first chambercontaining a control liquid exposed to atmospheric pressure, a secondchamber containing air and having a lower opening communicating with theirst chamber below the surface of the control liquid, and meansresponsive to the transfer of control liquid from said lirst chamberinto said second chamber for changing the position of said movablechamber and operating said ballast release valve when the atmosphericpressure has a predetermined increase caused by descent of the balloon.

4. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for ballast to be controllably released in increments from afree floating balloon, a control chamber for a pool of control liquidexposed to atmosphere, a float within said control chamber having an airchamber therein communicating with the control chamber beneath thesurface of the liquid so that liquid ows into the air chamber and thelevel of the float in the control chamber varies as a function of theatmospheric pressure change, and a ballast release device connected tothe lioat for controlling the release of ballast from the ballastcontainer.

5. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for liquid ballast with a downwardly facing ballast dischargeopening, an overflow pool of liquid below said ballast container withthe ballast discharge opening facing said pool to receive liquid andoverow to drop ballast from a balloon, and means responsive to decreaseor increase in atmospheric pressure for elevating or lowering the poolas a function of atmospheric pressure change to control discharge ofballast from the ballast container.

6. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for ballast to be controllably released in increments from afree floating ballon, a first chamber for an open pool of control liquidexposed to atmosphere, a oat within said rst chamber having a closedsecond chamber therein filled with air and communicating with the firstchamber beneath the surface of the liquid so that liquid flows into theair chamber and the level of the lloat changes as a function ofatmospheric pressure change, a closed third chamber lilled with air andcommunicating with said first chamber below the surface of the liquid sothat the level of the liquid in the first chamber will change withatmospheric change to change the elevation of the iloat relative to theballast release mechanism, and a ballast release device connected to theoat for controlling the release of ballast as a function of theelevation of the oat.

7. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising acontainer for ballast to be controllably released in increments from afree floating balloon, a control chamber for a pool of control liquidexposed to at mosphere, a iioat within said chamber having an airchamber therein communicating with the control chamber beneath thesurface of the liquid so that liquid flows into the air chamber and thelevel of the oat is a function of the atmospheric pressure change, saidoat having a reduced size at its upper end so that the liquid of thecontrol chamber closes over an upper surface of said iioat as the oatdescends and the iloat will lose its buoyancy and will drop rapidly forrapid response, and a ballast release device connected to the float forcontrolling the release of ballast as a function ofthe elevation of theoat.

8. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a ballastcontainer for liquid ballast to be controllably released in incrementsfrom a floating balloon, a support for the container accommodatingmovement between an upright and an inverted position, and meansresponsive to change in altitude for inverting the container when theballoon descends to drop ballast and returning the balloon to a normalaltitude, said altitude responsive means moving the container to anupright position when the balloon ascends.

9. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising a ballastcontainer for liquid ballast to be controllably released in incrementsfrom a free oating balloon, a closed tirst chamber iilled with air, asecond chamber for a control liquid open to atmospheric pressure, apassageway communicating between said chambers, a support carrying saidchambers and mounted for inversion with the chambers located so that thesupport will be upright with the control liquid in the second chamberand inverted with the control liquid moved to the lirst chamber byincreased atmospheric pressure, and means responsive to movement of thesupport to inverted position for releasing ballast.

l0. An atmospheric powered ballast release mechanism comprising aballast container for liquid ballast to be controllably released inincrements from a free oating balloon, a closed rst chamber lilled withair, a second chamber for a control liquid open to atmospheric pressure,a pivotal support carrying said chamber with a pivotal support pointbetween the chambers, a passageway communicating between said chambersand extending laterally of said pivotal support point so that a momentarm will be created to pivot the upper chamber downwardly when thepassageway contains liquid, and means responsive to pivotal movement ofthe pivotal support for releasing ballast when said passageway is iilledwith liquid as increasing atmospheric pressure forces the liquid fromthe second to the lirst chamber.

No references cited.

